Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-08-06
SOCIALISM IN FRANCE,
CONCLUDED.
LAURENCE GRONlIND.

MalOn WAS Jncn not enllftly Sats-
fled with this program and therefore,
the same year, 1850, elaborated the
following declaration:
"In order that the Socialist Party may
not be reduced to state of impotence,
to the en- Oyment of its adyersaricS, the
undersigned have resolved to appeal to
all unions of good will who, without
perfectly agreeing with them in purely
dOctrinal matters, think with them that
it is necessary and urgent to realize inn
mediately certain practical reforms.
"WIIEREAS, The aim to attain is tri-
umph of social justice through liberty,
and this cannot be attained but by the
transformation of the wage system the
modern expression of the ancient subjec-
ton Of the workers to the capitalists
and by the more and more direct partici-
patton of all in the action of govern
menf.
"WHEREAS This social revolution can
be accomplished by a succession Of graft
nal evolution and progressive steps,
"We place before you this platform,
is this word which has given Malon's
party the name of poSsiblHsfs) to that
which can be attempted, during the next
year, with our new chamber. When
that is realized, we shall propose new,
more marked, more complete program,
to serve as a new step toward the ideal,
aimed at by the Socialist Party.
cit is time to get out of anarchy and
impotence which discourage everybody
and ont of the purely critical stage. We
adopt the saying of Danton, we destroy
only what we replace.
1--WE have here to do with the year
1881, not with the year 2,000-md then
follow all the more practical demands
contained in platform mi}iinUm.'
We see from this what is the real
difference between Guesde and
Malon; the former thinks the change
can be accomplished only by a yIo-
lent revolution, the latter thinks it
can be done gradually and by a series
of peaceful measures. But that con-
Germs only the future. As to what
is to be accomplished n0W they are
in perfect theoretical and practical
agreement; and it is the standpoint
of Marx they occupy.
But these two French leaders, and
especially their disciples, neverthe
less constantly indulge in personal
squabbles; it is as we have seen, not
difference of principles that divide
them, it is simply that which always
disfigures all French movements:
personal rivalries. 1t is matter
that threatens the cause with great
mischief; it has happened in more
than dozen election districts in
Paris that both these factions have
nominated their candidates; but for
tunately, so far, the candidate hay
ing the smallest number of adherents
has been regularly withdrawn before
the decisive moment arrived.
Both Malon and Guesde are lead
ers and chiefs in the full sense Of
the term; the latter, the very best
debater the Socialists have in all
France, has the smaller number Of
disciples, but the most energetic,
and intellectual; Malon's disciples
are far more numerous and better
off in the worlds goods. 1t is said
that he needs only hint that he needs
money, and treasures come pouring
into his lap; that is what has enabled
him to start and keep al1oat the only
Socialist monthly in France, lie
RerH S0cldliste, while Guesde's fac
ton have their journalistic enter
prises, lie .SOcialist9, a weekly, and
Lfi du People, daily. This latter
had become a splendidly paying
property, read by hundreds Of thous,
ands of workingmen, when he and
his faction lost it.
French Socialists of all colors
know the Importance of having po-
litical power; therefore, whenever